Texas Legislature takes a weeklong recess

As many lawmakers do every four years when a president is inaugurated, a good number of them go to Washington and this year is no exception. Houston Democratic Reps. Garnet Coleman and Armando Walle, as well as Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio, among others, said they will be in the nation’s capital for President Barack Obama’s second inauguration.

This is a long tradition, said Coleman who has served in the Texas House for two decades.

When former President George W. Bush was inaugurated in 2001 and again in 2005, many of his Republican colleagues – and even some Democrats – flew to Washington for the same reason, Coleman said.

And then, there is the Martin Luther King holiday, which the Texas Legislature has observed for years. It helped to extend the break for an entire week.

But just because there is a week-long break doesn’t necessarily mean it will be partying time for Democrats and time for relaxation for Republicans.

Some like Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, they will take advantage of the recess to analyze the state budget proposal Senate Finance Committee Chairman Tommy Williams, R-Houston unveiled Monday.

Walle said he intends to do the same with the budget bill House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, proposed.

And for House Speaker Joe Straus, this is a good time to work without interruption on the committee appointments expected next month, Coleman said.